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Upstate teen told to take off make-up for driver’s license photo

An Upstate teen wants to retake his driver’s license picture after he says the employees at the Anderson Department of Motor Vehicle made him take off his make-up for the picture.

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Updated: 11:09 AM EDT Jun 17, 2014

Upstate teen told to take off make-up for driver’s license photo

An Upstate teen wants to retake his driver’s license picture after he says the employees at the Anderson Department of Motor Vehicle made him take off his make-up for the picture.

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Updated: 11:09 AM EDT Jun 17, 2014

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WEBVTT CANDIDATES IS A GOOD THING. TONIGHT, THE ANDERSON D-M-V FINDS ITSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF CONTROVERSY ITS CENTERS AROUND SOCIETY'S DEFINITION OF GENDER ROLES. AND IT ALL BECAUSE OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE PHOTO. WYFF NEWS FOUR'S ANGELA RODRIGUEZ HAS THE STORY FROM ANDERSON. Angela Rodriguez Anderson AR: c51 he'll be the first to tell you that its complicated. Chase Culpepper was worried about passing the test not taking the photo. But his excitement faded fast when he was told that if he wanted his driver's license he would have to change his appearance. Natts- car starting FOR MANY DRIVING IS A COMING OF AGE c10 11:07:05 I was nervous for driving school A TASTE OF INDEPENDENCE C10 11;07:53 I was excited as anyone would be THIS CAUTIOUS YOUNG DRIVER ACED THE TEST WITH A PERFECT SCORE. THE PHOTO... IS WHAT POSED A ROADBLOCK AT THE ANDERSON DMV OFFICE. C30 Chase Culpepper 11:17:03 she said I could not wear a disguise to my photo. According to her, me wearing makeup was a disguise and i did not look like a boy should. CHASE SHARED THESE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS. TO HIM, THIS WAS NOT ABOUT DECEPTION. HE WAS HONEST AND TOLD D-M-V EMPLOYEES THAT HE IS MALE. AND RELUCTANTLY, HE TOOK OFF HIS MAKEUP SO THAT HE COULD GET HIS FIRST DRIVERS LICENSE. c30 11:17:19 it was degrading. I was in shock THE 16 YEAR OLD, ONCE SO EAGER TO DRIVE, NOW REGRETS CHANGING HIS LOOK TO PLEASE THE STATE. HE IS FIGHTING FOR THE CHANCE TO RETAKE HIS PHOTO WITH MAKEUP LIKE HE WEARS EVERYDAY. C37 it was incredibly devastating FOR THE CULPEPPER FAMILY ITS' MORE THAN JUST HURT FEELINGS... THEY CALL IT DISCRIMINATION. C37 Teresa Culpepper 11:25:59 this is who he is. For him to not have makeup would be disguise in itself. STATE OFFICIALS SAY EMPLOYEES WERE SIMPLY FOLLOWING THE RULES. A POLICY ADOPTED IN 2009 STATES "AT NO TIME WILL AN APPLICANT BE PHOTOGRAPHED WHEN IT APPEARS THAT HE OR SHE IS PURPOSELY ALTERING his OR HER APPEARANCE SO THAT THE PHOTO WOULD MISREPRESENT HIS OR HER IDENTITY. THE DMV DOES, HOWEVER, MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR MEDICAL AND religious REASONS. NATTS- CAR CRANKING. C10 11:08:13 i'm telling my story because i don't want other people like me to go through the same thing. WHAT HE WANTS NOW IS TO STEER THE ENTIRE STATE IN A NEW DIRECTION... ONE THAT TAKES THE FOCUS OFF OF LOOKS AND LABELS.. GIVING SPECIAL CONSIDERATION THOSE WHO SEE THEMSELVES DIFFERENTLY THAN SOCIETY DICTATES. AR c58 Angela Rodriguez Anderson b/c the dmv employees followed policy it does not appear that chase will get to retake that photo without a battle. the family is considering the possibility of legal action. Angela Rodriguez Anderson

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Upstate teen told to take off make-up for driver’s license photo

An Upstate teen wants to retake his driver’s license picture after he says the employees at the Anderson Department of Motor Vehicle made him take off his make-up for the picture.